There's nothing like seeing an F1...

[drewwtms]

Working here I am very lucky to be around some amazing cars. But there is nothing like unexpectedly seeing a McLaren F1 on the road. Last night our company's owner, Will Turner, left work to pick up an F1 (#007) for this weekend. He was taking it to Lime Rock Park to be a part of our paddock display for the SPEED Touring Car race. I had no idea that he was picking up the car last night.

Anyway, I was heading south and I looked over to the north-bound lane and there was a familiar sight. But it didn't register right away that it was a McLaren F1. When the cobwebs cleared and I realized what it was I had to smile. Seeing an F1 or LM around here is cool. But seeing one in motion on the road is special.

[karbon]

for sure. a couple of years back there was a louis vuitton concours at rockefeller center. that was the first, and last, time i ever saw an f1 in person. it wasn't just any f1 though, it was the gulf liveried gtr. i have to smile every time i think about it.

[Peloton25]

Drew- its nice to know that even with the more frequent contact you have with the cars that you can still have that reaction when you see one. I remember my single encounter with an F1 road car on the road - in fact, I'll never forget it.

Hey karbon-
I've heard other reports of a Gulf GTR on display at that event, but I've never been able to find any photos of it. Did you happen to take any that you would be willing to share? If not, can you post a photo of which Gulf GTR it was? I'm assuming it was a short tailed '96 GTR with the Blue/Orange livery. I've seen a few things prior that lead me to believe one might be hiding somewhere in the USA but have not been able to confirm that at all.

>8^)
ER

[karbon]

yeah it was the short tail. i'm not sure what year it was though. i did take some photos, but their buried somewhere in the archives. i'll try and dig em up this weekend, then scan and post them on monday.

[Mpowered]

The only place I have ever seen Mclarens is on my monitor or in my dreams. Would be thrilled to see one in person. Was in London years ago, but didn't realize at the time that McLaren was headquartered there and continue to kick myself everytime I think about missing my chance. Are there any real live ones in Texas?

[BMW V12]

i saw the "schäfer-automobile" f1 , which is reported to be #016 (IIRC)..... i think it was in 2000 and i saw it on the "essen motorshow"....

i wanted to take some pics , but there were a lot of people standing around it and there wasn't enough space for taking some good ones.....

but when i saw the car , i was shaking

^_^

[McLaren F1 Guy]

Mpowered, theres atleast one in Texas, the silver #42 owned by Carl Beal (or was it Carty Beal? I forget) and it is driven around occasionally. I know a guy who says he's seen a black one around Trophy Club, a very small town that I went to when I was a little kid and might have seen a mclaren but didnt know it

[MalkaJB]

Originally Posted by Mpowered

The only place I have ever seen Mclarens is on my monitor or in my dreams. Would be thrilled to see one in person.

Sigh...me too.

Originally Posted by McLaren F1 Guy

Mpowered, theres atleast one in Texas, the silver #42 owned by Carl Beal (or was it Carty Beal? I forget) and it is driven around occasionally. I know a guy who says he's seen a black one around Trophy Club, a very small town that I went to when I was a little kid and might have seen a mclaren but didnt know it

Isn't Beal's McLaren currently with McLaren Cars getting its tranny fixed?

I remember that originally the car was sent to a third party (Liberty Gears), because McLaren Cars was charging way too much and he found that they would do it at 1/10th the price.

will69camaro has since informed me that the car was sent to McLaren Cars so the job would "get done and done right," in his own words. I think it is costing Beal something like $80,000-$90,000.

[mini magic]

Beals is in a shop in TX getting fixed

[MalkaJB]

Are you sure?

Because like I said, will69camaro told me that Beal had it sent to McLaren after Liberty Gears took too long.

Did you overlook that in my original post, or are you saying that it isn't true?

[mini magic]

Yes, the transmission was sent to mclaren, the car is still in the shop on a lift.

[Newton22]

Think that's bad?

I was 3 blocks close the Larry Blair's XP4. I still have never seen a McLaren in my life.

[MalkaJB]

That's nothing.

I took this picture right outside Clifford Meltzer's Los Gatos garage, where a ton of great cars including the F1 are stored, and I have never seen one either.

[Newton22]

Originally Posted by MalkaJB

That's nothing.

I took this picture right outside Clifford Meltzer's Los Gatos garage, where a ton of great cars including the F1 are stored, and I have never seen one either.

Wow, that sucks. But to me, a XP4 is a bit of a different McLaren F1. I mean, how many people here have actually seen the XP4?

BTW, I loved Los Gatos when I lived in Cali, where do you live currently?

[dhabes]

So how was the weekend Drew?
looks like you and Dave had fun.


I hear the TMS paddock was killer with the E46 M3s, Mini, M1, #007 and so on. Brad Olsen said he saw tons of TMS shirts around the paddock...sounds like a good weekend.

and for Mclaren content.